Memorable moments in the 100 years of Hawkeye wrestling

Fourth in a five-part series of memorable moments in the 100 years of Hawkeye wrestling. Tomorrow: Dan Gable's last stand.

Some consider it the loudest Carver-Hawkeye Arena has ever been.

Brooks Simpson, then a sophomore 190-pounder for the University of Iowa, provided one of the biggest upsets in Hawkeye wrestling history, pinning Iowa State's top-ranked and defending national champion Eric Voelker in a dual on Jan. 16, 1988.

It sent most of the 13,000 fans into a frenzy and helped fourth-ranked Iowa trump the No. 1 Cyclones, 22-15, and remain unbeaten at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. It also avenged the previous year's national meet, where ISU snapped Iowa's string of nine-straight NCAA titles.

“I'm very privileged to have been a part of that whole saga,” Simpson said. “For me the most meaningful was the fact that it was not just an individual win for me over a solid opponent. It was Iowa beating Iowa State, the team that had taken the title from us the year before.”

The Hawkeyes trailed entering the final two matches. Any win by the heavily favored Voelker and the Cyclones seal it.

Simpson, a strong wrestler in the bottom position, hit a side roll, catching Voelker on his back, settling and adjusting before getting a fall in 4:46. Simpson wasn't going to squander the opportunity.

“It was a fight to get him there in a secure position,” said Simpson, an NCAA runner-up at 190 in 1990. “Once I secured it, I knew it was just a matter of time before I got the fall.”

Fans roared and went crazy.

“The place erupted,” former Hawkeye Coach Dan Gable said. “It was exciting.”

Simpson's dad stormed the mat and picked up his son. Simpson's father-in-law threw his coat into the air and never saw it again.

“It was pandemonium,” Simpson said. “It was more than just celebration. It was kind of chaos.”